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There are occasions when a student’s behaviour may be so extreme, or
out of the ordinary, that those around them have serious doubts about
their ability to function safely. While people aged 18 and over are
considered to be adults and therefore responsible for their own
well-being, some circumstances may lead us to feel their judgement may be
impaired and they should definitely be seen by a health professional.
Circumstances indicating this fall into two categories.

Where there is an element of danger

The student indicates they are at risk of causing serious harm to
themself or to another person. Detailed plans to end their own life,
rather than vague thoughts about suicide, suggest the student may be
preparing to act. Sometimes, people whose mental health is compromised do
not actively plan to end their life, but repeatedly put themselves in
dangerous situations which could cause them harm, such as driving
recklessly, being out of control due to substance abuse, or random
promiscuity. Where there is a threat to harm someone else, an aggressive
or obsessive preoccupation with this task and the existence of a firm
plan may indicate serious intent.

Where symptoms suggest the student is losing their
grip on reality and may have serious mental health problems

Signs to look out for can include:

Incoherence – things you are told not making sense

Delusions about themself or about other people

Paranoia – believing that people are plotting against them or
trying to control them

Hearing voices

Disassociation – seeming not fully present during a conversation,
not being able to account for chunks of time, memory loss